Wave-motor



Patented May 30, |899. J. E. H'ARTWELL.

WAVE. MUTOR.

(Application led May B, 1898.)

4 Sheets*$heei l.

No Model.)

WLM/mow Af TH: N'onms PETERS ou.. PNoTfuTuo., wAsHlNawN. n. cA

No. 626,|62. Patented May 30, |899'. J. E. HARTWELL.

` W A V E M 0 T 0 H "Application filed May 8, 1898.)

4 sneetssheef 2.

No Model.)

TN: Noam: PETERS co. PHoTauTno, wAsmNcmn. u. cv

Patented May 30, 1899.

J. E. HARTWELL.

W A V E M 0 T 0 R Application led May 6, 189B.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

N0 Model.)

TH: mums Pz-rzns co. mman-mo.. wAsHmnroN. D. c.

No. 626,|62. Patented May 30, |899. J. E. HARTWELL. WVE MOTOR.

(Application filed May 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

'ma Nonms Pneus co. Puoourno., msmuson, u. c.

A Nrrno STATE-s g PATENT OFFICE..

JACOB E. nARTwnLL, OF TROY, MONTANA.

WAVE-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,162, dated May 30, 1899. Appiicaeon ined May 6.1398. serai No. 679.944. No man.)

To all whom it maar] concern: V

Be it known that I, J AOOB E. HARTWELL,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing atTroy',

in the county of Flathead and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wave- Motors; and I do; hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such.

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is designed for the production of a wave-motor by means of which the power exerted by the incessant movement of the waves may be utilized. y .The primary object of the invention is to provide means in a motonof this character' whereby a continuous movement will be imparted to the power-shaft during the upwardand-downward movement of the wave-actuated mechanism. Y

A further Object of the invention isto provide means whereby the position of the float may be regulated according to the condition of the tide and means whereby the length of stroke may be controlled according to the height of the tide and the size of the wave.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyl disconnecting the drive-shaft from the power-transmitting mechanism when a wave of unusual size acts upon the float.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. p

The invention consists of the construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts whichl will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of the speciiication, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my im proved motor in operative position. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a hOri-L zontal section taken on the line os'of Fig. 2^, the same extending through the frame, just above the air-pumps thereon. Fig. 4 is an elevation looking from the side upon which the fly-wheel or governor is located. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the main float. Fig. 6 isadetailperspective View, partly in section, of the `walking-beam or power-transmitting arm mounted upon the main frame. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view `of any suitable material.

through the uprights or standards on the main frame. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the air compression cylinder, the drum, and the parts connected thereto. Fig. 9 is a similar section through the valve-chest communicating with said cylinder. isa cross-section through the compressioncylinder and valve-chest.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts v in the different views.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame which is secured in any suitable manner to the shore adjacent to the beach, the said frame comprising a base 1, a pair of substantially parallel uprights 2 2,longitudinally extending parallel beams 3 3, and an upright 4, in which the drive-shaft carrying the ilywheel is mounted. Connecting the outer ends ofthe beams 3 3 is a horizontally-disposed rod or shaft'5, upon which is mounted a drum or roller 6, to which are secured aiioat-supportin g beam or arm 7 and the walking-beam or powertransmitting arm S, the iioat-supporting arm or beam extending outwardly and the powertransmitting arm upwardly, so that they are at substantially right angles one to thevothe'r. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the beam 7 is theoat-frame 9, comprising the parallel bars 10 10, the downwardly-extend- Fig. 10'

ing parallel side arms 11,'and a platform l 1.2, asclearly shown. 'Ihe'saidV frame is so connected with the beam 7 that a pivotal movement thereof in a plane at right angles to said beam is permitted. Upon` the upper side of the beam 7 suitable hand-rails 12 are provided, and similar rails 13 are provided upon the platform 12. The outer ends of the shaft 5 project beyond the sides ofthe beams 3 3, and bracing wires or cables let connect said shaft with the outer endof the beam 7. Suitable bracing wires or cables 15 also connect the outer'end of the beam 7 with the upper end of the beamor power-transmitting arm 8. The bracing wires or cables 15'are so located that they will not obstruct the passage along the platform on the beam 7. Pivotally mounted in the float-frame 9 and located between the side arms 11 11 thereof is the main float 1G, which is formed hollow and The Vopening on the upper side thereof may be closed by a suitable hatch 17, as clearly shown. In con- IOO nection with the main float 16 I employ an auxiliary or supplemental iioat 18, the same being connected to the outer end of a shaft 19, which extends longitudinally into the main loat 16 and is mounted in suitable bearings therein. Adjacent to its point of connection with the main float the said shaft is bent at right angles, forming two arms, upon the outer of which the ioat 18 is secured. By this construction it will be seen that a rocking movement will be imparted to the shaft 19 by the action of the waves upon the oat 18. The inside of the main float 16 is provided with a false bottom 26, beneath which rocks or other suitable ballasting material may be placed, the object of the ballast being to retain the float at all times in its upright position or, rather, in a position so that the hatch 17 will be at all times uppermost. The ballast is also provided for the purpose of causing the downward movement of the oat 16 upon the recession of the waves to exert the same power as the upward movement thereof does. Formed upon the inner end of the shaft 19 is a crank-arm 21, to which is connected a suitable piston-rod 22 of an ordinary pump 23, the objectof this pump and its connections with the lioat 18 being to pump the water from the main float 16 in case any should enter the same.

The walking-bealn or power-transmitting arm Sis formed of two parallel sections, which are suitably connected to the drum 6 and are provided with oppositely-disposed elongated slots 24 24. \Vithin these slots ts and moves a transverse pin 25, connected to the lower ends of guide-plates 26 26, located between the two sections of the beam 8. Connected to the upper end of said guides is a wire or cable 27, which passes around a pulley 28, secured to a transverse shaft 29, connecting the upper ends of the sections 24 of which the beam 8 is made. Upon the outer end of the shaft 29 is a pulley 30, to which is oo nnected a wire or cable 3l, which passes downwardly therefrom and is wound upon a winch or windlass 32, suitably ,mounted at the lower end of the beam 8. Said windlass is provided with a ratchet-wheel 33, which is en-v gaged bya spring dog or pawl 34 for preventing backward movement thereof. The said dog is controlled by a cam-lever35, fulcrumed upon the beam S at a point near its lower end, said lever being provided for the purpose of throwing said dog out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel when desired.Y By the mechanism described it will be seen that by turning the winch or windlass 32 in one direction or the other the guides 26, carrying the transverse pin 25, may be raised or lowered for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Mounted loosely upon a shaft 36, connecting the uprights 2 2 at points near their upper ends, are two parallel crown-gears 37 37, whose teeth are formed upon their adjacent faces. The said gears mesh with a pinion 38 upon a vertical shaft 39, mounted in bearingsV in a cross-beam 40, connecting the upper ends of the uprghts 2. The upper end of the shaft 39 carries a crown-gear 4l, which meshes with a pinion 42, secured to the horizon tall y-disposed shaft 43, mounted in brackets 44 on the cross-beam 40. Also loosely mounted on the shaft 36 and located between the crown-gears 37 is a ratchet-lever45, which carries at points near its free end the oppositelydisposed spring-actuated ratchet-blocks 46 47, which are adapted to engage, respectively, ratchetteeth 4S upon the peripheries of the crowngears 37. The said ratchet-blocks are so disposed upon the ratchet-lever 45 that upon the movement of said level' in one direction one of said gears 37 will be turned and upon the opposite movement thereof the other will be turned, the action of the gears 37 being to rotate the shaft 39, upon which the pinion 3S is mounted, always in the same direction. The free end of the ratchet-lever 45 is connected through a pit-man 49 with the walking-beam or power-transmitting arm S. The means of connection is through the adjust-ably-mounted transverse pin 25, which lits within slots or notches 50 upon the underside of said pitman.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the upward-and-downward movement of the float 16, caused by the waves, will through the float-beam 7 transmit a roeking motion to the drum 6, which motion will be imparted to the power-transmitting arm S and thence through the pitman 49 to the ratchet-lever 45, the crown-gears 37, pinion 38, shaft 39, gear41, and pinion 42 to the shaft 43. As the tide rises and falls the mean level of the float 16 will vary and the stroke of the power-transmitting arm 8 will be lengthened or shortened, according to the height or size of the waves. In order to compensate for these variations, the mechanism heretofore described for connectingr the power-transmitting arm 8 with the ratchet mechanism has been designed. For example, when the tide is high the pitman 49 will be connected to the transverse pin 25 in one of the notches nearer its point of connection with the ratchet-lever 46, and whenv the tide is low the connection will be in one of thenotches or slots adjacent to the outer end of said pitman. The length of stroke is controlled by raising or lowering the guides 26, which carry the transverse pin 25, through the medium of the windlass 32 and its connections with said guides, so that the are of movement of the point of connection between the pitman 49 and the arm 8 will be lengthened or shortened.

It has been the experience of all who have watched the movement of the waves upon a beach that every fourth or fifth wave is largeror higher than the others. Some means must be provided, therefore, for preventing the drive-shaft from being affected by this irregularity in movement of the power-sup- IOO plying agent. The mechanism I have provided for this purpose is as follows: Secured to the drum 6, preferably at the end opposite that to which the winch 32 is secured, is a short arm 5l, which is connected through a pin 52 with a pitman 53, leading rearwardly from the walking-beam or power-transmitting arm 8, the same being connected eccentrically to a horizontally-disposed rocking lever 54, mounted in a suitable bracket upon the base l. In the rear'of said bracket are located twin air compressors orpumps 55 55, whose pistons 56 5 6 are connected through links 57 57 with the outer ends, respectively, of the rocking lever 54, so that the rocking movement of the power-transmitting arm 8 will transmit to said piston-rods an alternatingand reciprocating movement. Leading from the rear ends of the pumps 55 55 to an air drum or dome 58 are suitable pipes or conduits 59. The air-dome is provided with a safety-valve 60 in its upper end, and through the opening therein the escaping air is transmitted through a pipe 6l to a point beneath the surface of the water for the purpose of avoiding'the disagreeable noise occasioned by the escape of air` from said drum. Said drum communicates through a pipe 62 with a'n air-compression cylinder 63, having a valve-chest 64 upon one side thereof. A ventopening leads from the longitudinal center of the cylinder 63 to said chest, and in the latter moves a valve 66, having openings 67 at its opposite ends, adapted to register with said vent-opening when it is in its eXtreme forward or extreme rearward position. The valve-stein 68 of the valve 66 leads forwardly and is connected to a iiat rod or bar 69, having an elongatedslot in its forward end, within which fits and moves the short arm 51, heretofore referred to. The end of said fiat rod or bar 69 may be raised or lowered for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the leverage between the arm 5l and said bar by means of a crank-lever 7l, which is fulcrumed to one of the longitudinal beams 3 and is adapted to bear against the under side of said bar. Said crank-lever is provided with a handle-arm 72, which moves in contact with a toothed sector 73, secured to the beam 3, by means of which the posit-ion of the crank-lever may be controlled.

By the construction j ust. described it will be observed that under normal conditions or with waves of normal size the movement of the power-transmitting arm S will have no effect upon the bar 69 and the valve 66, connected thereto. Should a wave of unusual size come, however, the arm 8 Will be rocked to an unusual degree ,and the short arm 5l, connected thereto, will be brought into engage-4 ment with one end or the other of the slot 70 and impart a longitudinal movement to the valve 66, bringing one of the openings 67 therein opposite the vent-opening between the cylinder 63 and the valve-chest 64 thereon. When this takes place, the air within the engine 63 will be released and the presa sure on the piston therein relieved. The piston-rod 74 of the cylinder 63 is connected through a link 75 with the lower end of a lever 76, fulcrnmed at'its upper end t-o the upright 4 on the main' frame. A short distance below the point of connection of said lever with said upright is secured a laterallyextending preferably curved arm 77, carrying a yoke 78, having a flanged frictionwheel 79 mounted-in the upper end thereof. The said friction-wheel is adapted to bear against the adjacent edges of two rollers 80 and 8l, mounted', respectively, upon the end of the shaft 43 and the end of the drive-shaft 82 upon the upper end of the upright 4. The outer end of the shaft 82 carries a fly-wheel or governor 83, which may also serve as a drive-wheel. The construction just described is provided for the purpose of preventing irregularity of movement in the motor from being transmitted to the drive-shaft 82. The drive-shaft 82 is connected to the shaft 43 by the frictional contact between the frictionwheel 79 and the rollers 8O and 8l, the said Contact being maintained by means of the pressure exerted on the Wheel 79 Afrom the compression-cylinder 63 through the pistonrod 74 thereof, the link 75, and the lever 76, whose upper end carries the wheel 79 and whose lower end is connected to said link. W'hen an unusually large wave strikes the float 16, the powertransmitting arm S is rocked beyond its usual extent of movement and the arm 5l will be brought into engagement with one or the other end of .the slot 70 in the rod 69, with the result thatpthe valve 66 will be thrown to the limit of its movement in one direction or the other, bringing one of the openings 67 therein opposite the vent-opening in the cylinder 63, thereby. relieving the pressure within said cylinder and removing the frictional contact between the wheel 7 9 and the rollers SO and 8l.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a Wave-motor, a float, a power-transmitting arm operated thereby, a rod or pitman connected to said arm for transmitting motion therefrom, a transverse pin on said arm by which the pitman is connected thereto, and a windlass and exible connection for raising and lowering said pin and adjusting it at any point on said arm.

2. In a wave-motor, a oat, a power-transmitting arm operated by said lioat, guides movable longitudinally on said arm, a longitudinally-adjustable pitman con nected to said guides for transmitting motion from said arm, and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for locking said guides at any point on said arm.

3. In a Wave-motor, a float, a power-transmitting arm operated thereby and provided with guide-slots, movable guides on said arm, a transverse pin connecting said guides and 'entering and traversing said slots, means forA IOO IIO

raising and lowering said guides, and a pitman connected to said pin for transmitting lnotion from the power-arm.

4. In a wave-motor, a iioat, a power-transmitting arm operated by said float and provided with guide-slots therein, guides on said arm, a transverse pin connecting said guides and fitting and moving in said slots, a roller mounted to turn in said arm, a cable connecting said roller with said guides, a windlass on said arm for turning said roller for thepurpose of raising and lowering said guides, and a pitman connected to said pin for communicating motion from said arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a shaft having a pinion thereon, of two oppositely-disposed loosely-mounted gear-wheels meshing with said pinion, and a ratchet-lever carrying dogs adapted to engage ratchet-teeth upon said gear-wheels, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a shaft and a pinion thereon, of a pair of loosely-mounted gear- 4wheels meshing with said pinion and provided with oppositely-extendin g ratchet-teeth upon their peripheries, a ratchet-lever or pawl-arm mounted upon the same shaft with said gearwheels, and spring-actuated blocks or dogs adapted to engage respectively the ratchet-' teeth on the gear-wheels, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a Wave-motor, the combination with a hollow oat and suitable power-transmittingmechanism connected thereto, of a shaft extending longitudinally of said fioat and pro-l vided with a crank-arm upon its outer end, a supplemental iioat on said crankarm,a pum p, and connections between the piston-rod thereof and said shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a wave-motor, the combination with a hollow iioat and power-transmitting mechanism connected therewith, the said float being provided with an opening in one side and having a false bottom opposite said opening, beneath which suitable ballast is located for the purpose of holding said iioat so that the opening therein will be uppermost, of a shaft extending longitudinally of said doat having a crank-arm upon its outer end, a supplemental float on said crank-arm, a pump leading to the bottom of the hollow fioat, and connections between the piston-rod thereof and a crank-arm on said shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a wave-motor, a float, a drive-shaft, power-transmitting mechanism between said float and drive-shaft, and means for automatically disconnecting the drive-shaft from said power-transmitting mechanism when a wave of unusual size acts upon the float.

l0. In a wave-motor, a float, a drive-shaft, power-transmit-ting mechanism between the iioat and the drive-shaft, a friction-coupling between said shaft and said power-transmitting mechanism, and means for automatically throwing said coupling out of operative position when a wave of unusual size acts upon the Heat.

11. In a wave-motor, a iioat, a drive-shaft, and power-transmitting mechanism between the float and the drive-shaft, a friction-coupling between the drive-shaft and the powertransmitting mechanism held in operative position by air under pressure, and means for relieving the pressure of the air upon said coupling when a wave of unusual size acts upon the float.

l2. In a wave-motor, a float, a drive-shaft, and power-transmitting mechanism between the float and the drive-shaft, a pulley upon the drive-shaft, a similar pulley upon a shaft forming part of said power-transmitting mechanism, a friction-wheel for coupling the pulleys on said shafts, an air-compression cylinder, a lever connected to the piston-rod of said cylinder at one end and supporting said friction-wheel at the other end, and means for automatically discharging said cylinder when a wave of unusual size acts upon the float.

13. In a wave-motor, a float, a drive-shaft, and power-transmitting mechanism between the iioat and drive-shaft, afriction-wheel for coupling said drive-shaft and said powertransmitting mechanism, a compression-cylinder, a lever connected at one end to the piston-rod of said cylinder and carrying said friction-wheel at its other end, and means for automatically discharging said cylinder when a wave of unusual size acts upon the float.

14. In a wave-motor, a float, a power-transmitting arm, a drive-shaft, and intermediate mechanism between said arm and said driveshaft, an air-pump operated by the movement of said arm, an air-com pression cylinder communicating therewith, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a friction-wheel for connecting the drive-shaft with the mechanism between the power-transmitting arm and said shaft and connected at its opposite end to the piston-rod of said cylinder, a short arm connected to said power transmitting arm, a

valve-chest upon the side of said aircon1 pression cylinder and communicating with said cylinder by a central port in the latter, a valve in said chest having ports at its opposite ends, and a rod or bar connected to the outer end of the stem of said valve and provided with an elongated slot through which the short arm on said power-arln extends, as and for the purpose set forth.

l5. Inawave-motor, a float, a power-transmitting arm, a drive-shaft, and intermediate mechanism between said arm and said driveshaft, an air-pump operated by the movement of said arm, an air-compression cylinder communicating therewith, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a friction-wheel for connecting the drive-shaft with the mechanism between the power-transmitting arm and said shaft, and connected at its opposite end to the piston-rod of said cylinder, a short arm connected to said power-transmitting arm, a

IOO

IIO

valve-chest upon the side of said air-cornof said rod or bar, as and for the purpose set Io pression cylinder and communicating with iorth.

said cylinder by a central port in the latter, In testimony whereof I afx my signature a Valve in said ohest having ports at its opin presence of two Witnesses.

posite ends, a rod or bar connected to the outer end of Ishe stem of said Valve and pro JACOB E HARTWELL' vided with an elongated slot through which lVVit-nn-esses:

the short arm on said power-arm extendsjan JOHN D. POSTEN,

means for raising and lowering the free end C. A. POTTER. 

